Does breech delivery increase cerebral palsy cases? Breech delivery can raise the risk of cerebral palsy, mainly because it may lead to oxygen deprivation during birth that damages the brain.
A breech baby is positioned bottom or feet first instead of head first in the womb. Vaginal delivery in this position carries extra risks compared to a head-first birth. One key danger is oxygen shortage to the baby, known as hypoxia. If not caught and handled quickly, this lack of oxygen can harm brain cells and lead to cerebral palsy, a lifelong condition that affects movement and muscle control.[1]
Doctors often spot breech position during pregnancy checks or early labor. When they do, they should talk to the mother about choices like a cesarean section, which is safer for breech babies in many cases. A C-section avoids the tight squeeze of vaginal birth that can cut off oxygen or cause other issues. Skipping this advice or failing to check the baby’s position properly counts as poor care and boosts the chance of problems like brain injury.[1]
In tough breech vaginal births, signs of baby distress such as abnormal heart rates might appear. Ignoring these or delaying a switch to C-section can worsen oxygen loss. Brain damage can happen in just minutes without enough oxygen, directly linking to cerebral palsy.[5]
Not every breech birth ends in cerebral palsy. Many factors play a role, like how the delivery is managed and if the baby has other risks such as prematurity. Still, medical experts agree that proper planning cuts these dangers a lot. For instance, routine C-sections for breech babies have made complications rarer over time.[2]
Birth injury lawyers often handle cases where breech mismanagement led to cerebral palsy. They point to failures like not diagnosing the position, not offering C-section options, or mishandling labor distress as key errors.[1]
Sources
https://www.rwkgoodman.com/injury/birth-injury-claims/cerebral-palsy-claims/cerebral-palsy-guide-causes-symptoms-legal/
https://nybirthinjury.com/early-mri-brachial-plexus-surgery-indication/
https://www.cerebralpalsyhub.com/birth-injury/erbs-palsy/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12701515/
https://www.grossmanjustice.com/new-jersey-breech-birth-delayed-section-lawyer/
https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/ataxic-cerebral-palsy
https://www.dwbrlaw.com/category/birth-injuries/
https://www.orthobullets.com/pediatrics/4130/cerebral-palsy–hip-conditions
